LENNIE LAWRENCE expects to end his 12-month pursuit of Australian international Tony Vidmar today.

LENNIE LAWRENCE expects to end his 12-month pursuit of Australian international Tony Vidmar today.

Providing he passes a medical, the 34-year-old former Glasgow Rangers star, released by Middlesbrough at the end of last season, will join Cardiff City on a free transfer to become the Bluebirds' second signing of the summer.

Having tried to lure Vidmar to Ninian Park last summer - the player opted for a move to the Riverside Stadium instead - City manager Lawrence expressed his delight at finally having got his man.

"All being well - it is an exhaustive two-day medical we put people through here - Tony should be a Cardiff City player on Wednesday," said Lawrence.

"I am very pleased to get him at the second attempt. Last summer his reluctance to drop down from the Scottish Premier League to Division Two was understandable.

"Having been released by Middlesbrough this summer, though, the Premiership to Division One is obviously less of a jump.

"Tony has always impressed me with the way he conducts himself and he is now very keen to join us, which is the type of player I want at this club."

Vidmar, capped 68 times for his country, will join Cardiff after making 12 Premiership and three cup appearances for Steve McClaren's side last season.

"He will be an asset to us as we are a little bit short of experience in the squad at the moment," said Lawrence.

"And the good thing about him is he is versatile. He can play in three different positions - centre-back, left-back or right-back."

City hope to make former Chelsea star Jody Morris their third acquisition of the summer following the arrival of Vidmar and ex-Wales international John Robinson.

But Lawrence suggested last night the Bluebirds, who would have to break their wage structure to land Morris, would not rush into signing the 24-year-old midfielder. "This one is a bit more complicated," he said. "It is a move which needs careful consideration. It's a massive step for him andfor us.

"Nothing is imminent as far as Morris is concerned, but neither would I rule out anything happening in the next day or two."

One player unlikely to be on board the flight to Sweden for City's pre-season tour on Friday is Tottenham utility man Gary Doherty.

"That is on the back-burner for now," said Lawrence. "We are not prepared to pay what Spurs are asking for him, so we will have to see what movement there is later in the month."